Slot machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORISDOF F. NEUBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLOT MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,686, dated September 15, 1896.

Application filed February 10,-1896. Serial No. 578,792. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORISDOF F. NEUBERT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Slot Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a slot machine for the automatic vending of medicinal merchandise, in which horizontal sliding merchandisetubes and merchandise-tube holders operate in conjunction with a stationary steel plate; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide rapid refilling facility by means of removable merchandise-tubes; second, to afford means for the proper carrying of the said merchandise-tubes, and, third, the provision of a channel for directing and supporting the coin, as required, for the purpose hereinafter described. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine as it appears after the removal of the machine-case; Fig. 2, a detailed view in perspective of the machine-case; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the 'merchandise-tube holders with coin guides or channels and the strips for the purpose of connecting the mer chandise-tube holders together; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the framework with its coin-reservoirs; Fig. 5, a detailed view of the lower end of a merchandise-tube holder with a merchandise-tube in it, showing the position when the operating-handle is fully drawn out. Fig. 6 isa partial sectional View of Fig. 5, showing the position of same when partially drawn, with coin detaining the parcel of merchandise. Fig. 7 is a front view of Fig. 6.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

In Fig. 2 the body A, the hinges B B, and the cover 0 constitute the machine-case. D D D are the slots for inserting the coin. The slot E serves two purposes: first, to admit the operating-handle J, Fig. 1, and, second, it allows the machine-case, when in position over the machine, to be slid upwardly, so that the cover 0 may be opened. F F F are the openings through which the merchandise is extracted.

The framework of the machine, previously referred to in- Fig. 4, also shownin Fig. 1, is preferably made of one piece of metal, and shaped so as to have two sides G G, a back II, and a bottom Q. The front is entirely open. At the center of the rightside G is,

a circular opening J, through which the op crating-handle J Fig. 1, passes. Secured to the inside of the same side are two clamps K K, by means of which the spring Y is attached, the latter serving to keep the merchandise-tube holders in proper position for continuous operation, as more fully explained hereinafter. Fastened to the bottom Q and extending upwardly are five partitions L L L L L, forming the sides of the coin-reservoirs M M, and at the same time the intermediate spaces N N N ,'which are the merchandisedrops. Covering the said spaces is a steel plate 0, having openings N and slots P, the openings Nbeing for the passage of the merchandise to the spaces N N N, to be finally extracted at opening F, Fig. 2. The slots P allow the coins to drop into the reservoirs M M below.

The merchandise-tube holders R R R are long narrow tubes of a suitable sectional shape to conform with the merchandise to be sold. Each merchandise-tube holder is provided with an opening X across the center of the bottom IT. Said opening is less in width.

. than the diameter of the coin to be used, and

extends with an arch up one side of the merchandise-tube holder. By this arrangement the merchandise-tube holder can slide past the coin, while the latter is supported at the same time by the bottom U, as more fully explained hereinafter. Each merchandisetube holder is also provided with a coin guide or channel W, which leads the coin from slot D, Fig. 2, to the arched opening X, and at the same time to slot I, in plate 0. This said channel is not of the same width throughout its entire length,but its lower portion is made so as to taper toward its lower opening, by which means the said lower opening is made so short that the coin is prevented from falling through it into slot P, but is only allowed to come through far enough so that its lower edge enters slot P. By this latter arrangement the coin is held in a vertical stationary position, for the purpose hereinafter described. At the opposite side of each merchandise-tube holder next to the bottom U is also an opening by means of which the bottom. U can slide away from under that parcel of merchandise, resting at the time being upon the said bottom U. Fastened directly above the said opening, and extending a little below the upper edge of the same, is the spring V. Thus arranged, the said spring prevents the bottom U from sliding away from under the said parcel of merchandise until the proper time has arrived.

The merchandise-tubeholders R R R are connected to each other by means of two upper strips S S and two lower strips T T, the latter protruding a trifle below the bottom U of the tube-holders, so as to give clearance between the said bottom U and the plate 0, thereby preventing unnecessary friction. The four strips S S and T T also protrude sidewise to limit the return stroke of the merchandise-tube holder. The merchandisetube R is similar to but smaller than the merchandise-tube holders R R R The merchandise-tube and tube-holders are similarly formed at their lower end, as shown enlarged in Figs. 5,6,and 7. The opening (more plainly shown in Fig. 5) at the lower end, on the side is for the purpose of allowing the bottom U to slide away from under the parcel of merchandise resting at the time upon the same, which is accomplished in the following manner: A coin is dropped into slot D, Fig. 2, whence it rolls down channel W, and, dropping partly through the lower opening of the latter, it plunges, with its lower edge, into slot P, which keeps it standing in a vertical stationary posi tion,beinat the same time held suspended by the tapering walls of the channel. In this position the coin is directly in front of the arched opening. Next, on pullin g the handle J, the merchandise-tube holders are slid sidewise. The channel XV first leaves the coin. The arch next passes by it, after which the coin is supported by the edges of the bottom U, as shown in Fig. 6, the said edges being marked X and X During this operation the bottom parcel of merchandise is prevented from sliding along with the merchandise-tube holder, being detained by the stationary coin, while the bottom U slides away from under the said parcel of merchandise. Gradually, as the merchandise-tube holder slides away from the said parcel of merchandise, the spring V is pressed outward and upward by the latter, and is still resting lightly upon the same when the handle J is fully drawn out. After the merchandise-tube holder has entirely slid away from the said parcel of merchandise and coin Z, the latter, having lost its support, will fall through the then fully-exposed slot P into its reservoir M below, while the former is resting upon the plate 0, as shown by the dotted lines marked Z in Fig. 5. Next, upon the release of the handle J, the spring Y returns the tube and tube-holders to their norm al position, pushing be fore them the parcel of merchandise into the opening N, through which it drops into the space N below, and is ready to be extracted at the opening F.

From the above it will be seen that the combined merchandise-tube holders are slid sidewise by means of one pull at the handle J 5 further, that the coin does not move during the entire operation, and therefore does not push the parcel of merchandise, but stands stationary'at the side of the latter, thus simply detaining it, while the merchandise-tubewith holder,slides away from under the same.

In the drawings, I show three merchandisetube holders; but the number of the merchandise-tube holders may be increased or decreased, as desired, and the spring Y may be arranged so that the handle J may be either pushed or pulled in sliding the said merchandise-tube holders.

The different parts of the machine can be almost instantly adjusted. The merchandise-tube holders, with connections Fig. 3, are placed upon the plate 0 in the framework Fig. 4:. The merchandise-tubes R are slid down into the merchandise-tube holders R, R and R The machine-case Fig. 2 covers the entire machine and is preferably slid over it. The handle J is passed through the opening E of the machine-case, and also through the opening J in the side G. The end of the handle, being threaded, is then screwed into nut J 2 upon the side of the merchandise-tube holder R The strain caused by the nut J 2 is distributed by brace-plate S.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a slot machine having a vertical sliding machine-case A with a swinging cover 0, also a framework having a plate 0, containing openings N and P communicating with spaces N and reservoirs M, all substantially as set forth.

2. In a slot machine the combination of a merchandise-tube holder R having a bottom U, with an opening X across its center, said opening terminating with an arch. up one side of the said merchandise-tube holder, also a channel XV communicating with said opening X, and, also at the same time partially with an opening P, in plate 0, all substantially as described.

3. The combination in a slot machine with partitions L, forming coin-reservoirs, M, and spaces, n'lerchandise-drops N, with a plate 0, secured to the said partitions, and also to the sides G, and back 11, of the framework of the machine, the said plate affording support and also sliding surface for the merchandise-tube holders R, with coin-guides WV, corresponding with an opening X, on one side and bot-. tom U, also a spring V, with an opening on the opposite side of the said merchandise- IIO tubeholder, being also connected to each the merchandise-tube holder R and the chanother by means of four strips S S and T, the nelW whereby the friction upon the said plate 10 latter two protruding a trifle below the bot- O, is reduced, all substantially as set forth. tom U thus preventing the said bottom U 5 from sliding upon the plate 0, by this ar- CRISDOF F. NEUBERT. rangement the strips T '1 only slide upon the Witnesses: said plate O, the Width of the openingP being CHRIS BOTT,

less than that of the opening in the bottom of HERMAN SCHELBARTH. 

